Coco Gauff is finishing the 2024 season on a high.

The world No.6 earned a walkover win over friend Naomi Osaka to reach the quarter-finals of the China Open.

Gauff was a gifted track athlete

Instagram @WTAThe question sparked a debate[/caption]

After bursting onto the scene as a 15-year-old, the 2023 US Open champion has the chance to become a tennis great.

Gauff comes from a strong athletic background and Rick Macci – who coached the Williams sisters – once described her as “a track star that has a tennis racquet in her hand.”

She was recently asked to weigh in on whether a 16-year-old male football star was a more talented athlete than her.

“A guy I know is 16 and plays high school football and says Coco Gauff is nowhere near as athletic as him. I disagree.” a fan wrote on Instagram, while listing the teen’s measurables.

Gauff’s measured response to a divisive topic showed the maturity and eloquence that can make her a role model for decades to come.

“I can’t and will never be able to do like majority of that so yeah bro’s got me but I mean it’s not really a flex considering he has a natural physical advantage being born male lol,” she wrote.

“But also athletes train in a very sport specific way so I’m sure there are women who lift what he does and also women who are faster than him.

“Just depends on the sport. but it will be hard to find one the can do that all of those across the board.”

Gauff continued her explanation by pointing out that what sets her and other elite athletes apart is the ability to use their physical gifts under extreme pressure.

“Also in my opinion athleticism has a lot to do with how you can perform,” she added.

Gauff celebrates after winning her first – and so far only – Grand SlamGetty

She showed her class by helping injured Osaka carry her bagGetty

“He can do all these things but can he put it all together in a performance pressure situation?

“Lot of great athletes out there that just can’t perform well under pressure so we never hear of them.”

Fans came into the comments to support Gauff’s stance.

“Willing to bet you could beat at least 98% of all athletes male and female with your mentality and emotional strength game,” wrote one.

“A diverse educated queen, we Stan,” added another.

After a disappointing Olympics and US hard court swing, where she fell at the fourth round stage in defense of her US Open crown, Gauff split from coach Brad Gilbert in September.

Gauff’s only singles title this year came back in Auckland in January ahead of the Australian Open, where she went on to reach the semi-final,

A return to form in the final weeks of the season will give her a shot at another first – in two previous appearances at the year-end WTA Finals she is yet to get out of the group stage.